16k for the new R1 (i am told)

[boxerscott]

Jeez, you can pick up a one owner low mileage Porsche Boxster for that !

Is it new money that think they can afford this?

Would anyone here part with that wedge?

Not me for one.

WSB attendances dropping like a stone, British GP status a Joke

What is the future for pricey new sports bikes with an ageing audience?

[Blackal]

How does that compare with the rest of the big manufacturers? How much is the S1000RR?

Don't forget - for every new sports bike to entice the rider to splash out - there is probably a used bike released to the market ........

That trickles down, until someone thinks "I fancy a nice, used Ducati 1098, 999 etc"

You don't have to admire/applaud/understand people buying the new "Yamahonduki" - just be grateful that someone is.

Same with new cars - I'd never buy a brand new Boxster, but thankfully - sufficient do, so that I can pick up a nice used one - further down the line.

Al

[Corvus]

I wouldn't part with that amount for an R1, but not necessarily because I couldn't see the value in it. I love sportsbikes, although I prefer the 600cc versions. The reason I wouldn't part with the money is that I think these bikes had their days numbered several years ago. The writing was on the wall. To use them to anywhere near their potential you'd end up in nick, as sure as eggs is eggs. To say nothing of the increasingly divvy driving standards compromising your chances of staying alive.

The good news is that motorcyling can be enjoyed at less than a tenth of that money.

[Topcat]

Yep, I would. Just ordered a new S100RR.

Stupid?

Maybe.

Huge amount of money for a bike?

Yep.

Can we get anywhere near its full potential on the road, no. Couldn't get close on a track but then a diesel Mondeo estate will do 140…

Like everyone else, we work hard for our money and currently have no burning desire to sit on a beach in the Maldives nor to see Machu Picchu or to cruise around the Med or any where else for that matter.

It will be Ginny’s bike, special birthday this year, her choice; she is reading this as I type!

Too many friends and relatives have got to our age and passed away from illness that took them by surprise. Enjoy it while you can.

To some people, a bike is a lot more than a weekend toy, ours are get to work vehicles, used every working day of the year, not just 10 mile commutes but London to the west country most weekends (yes, I've got the car this weekend but had stuff to do).

If you could, why not drive to work in an Aston Martin?

Bikes are a huge part of our life, holidays (not overseas yet but soon) and most of our free time so spending the money on them is not a problem.

Hey, the decorating can wait, it’s only the two of us and the cat (he's bloody expensive) now the girls have moved out and we are having a great time.

Our very good friends have recently spent 2K on some (very lovely) cats, spend it how you like.

[slparry]

Yep, I would. Just ordered a new S100RR.

Stupid?

Maybe.

Huge amount of money for a bike?

Yep.

Can we get anywhere near its full potential on the road, no. Couldn't get close on a track but then a diesel Mondeo estate will do 140…

Like everyone else, we work hard for our money and currently have no burning desire to sit on a beach in the Maldives nor to see Machu Picchu or to cruise around the Med or any where else for that matter.

It will be Ginny’s bike, special birthday this year, her choice; she is reading this as I type!

Too many friends and relatives have got to our age and passed away from illness that took them by surprise. Enjoy it while you can.

To some people, a bike is a lot more than a weekend toy, ours are get to work vehicles, used every working day of the year, not just 10 mile commutes but London to the west country most weekends (yes, I've got the car this weekend but had stuff to do).

If you could, why not drive to work in an Aston Martin?

Bikes are a huge part of our life, holidays (not overseas yet but soon) and most of our free time so spending the money on them is not a problem.

Hey, the decorating can wait, it’s only the two of us and the cat (he's bloody expensive) now the girls have moved out and we are having a great time.

Our very good friends have recently spent 2K on some (very lovely) cats, spend it how you like.

Well said

[popsky]

Yep, I would. Just ordered a new S100RR.

Stupid?

Maybe.

Huge amount of money for a bike?

Yep.

Can we get anywhere near its full potential on the road, no. Couldn't get close on a track but then a diesel Mondeo estate will do 140…

Like everyone else, we work hard for our money and currently have no burning desire to sit on a beach in the Maldives nor to see Machu Picchu or to cruise around the Med or any where else for that matter.

It will be Ginny’s bike, special birthday this year, her choice; she is reading this as I type!

Too many friends and relatives have got to our age and passed away from illness that took them by surprise. Enjoy it while you can.

To some people, a bike is a lot more than a weekend toy, ours are get to work vehicles, used every working day of the year, not just 10 mile commutes but London to the west country most weekends (yes, I've got the car this weekend but had stuff to do).

If you could, why not drive to work in an Aston Martin?

Bikes are a huge part of our life, holidays (not overseas yet but soon) and most of our free time so spending the money on them is not a problem.

Hey, the decorating can wait, it’s only the two of us and the cat (he's bloody expensive) now the girls have moved out and we are having a great time.

Our very good friends have recently spent 2K on some (very lovely) cats, spend it how you like.

Sounds good to me Dave, but it's whippets not cats in our house, the rest is exactly our way of thinking.

[Boxered]

I wholeheartedly agree with the last three posters, I can only dream of buying a new bike, ( I have previously purchased 3 new 'uns ) and I really can't see me being in a position to ever buy new again, and those prices look really scary to me but, I am sooo glad that other people do so that I may possibly benefit from buying a used one sometime down the line.
having said that, my R1200S is going NOWHERE any time soon, and even a lottery win would only see some additions to the stable ( sorry blackal) rather than replacements.
I am so happy that i no longer covet new bikes.

Steve

[dave the german]

I like adding to the stable - the only new bike I want is a GS. I could afford to buy it but I want to use the 12 this year and it would clear the rainy day money out. I might get a GS next year but will then probably still keep the 11 and the 12 and get rid of the VFR. Could do with a newer car but I only use that for work so it will stay. there's only me at home so my decorating can wait and I'll spend the money on bits for the 12 (doesn't need anything important but it's what I spend my money on). I'm of the opinion tho if you want it and can afford it buy it. Bit of a shitty world at the mo so if a new bike that you can't use to it's full potential makes you happy go for it and enjoy

[Fw190]

Jeez, you can pick up a one owner low mileage Porsche Boxster for that !

Is it new money that think they can afford this?

Would anyone here part with that wedge?

Not me for one.

WSB attendances dropping like a stone, British GP status a Joke

What is the future for pricey new sports bikes with an ageing audience?

My Boss just ordered one, I'm not sure of the model name, but it's the highest spec available, once it's delivered, Yamaha do a 'handover day' at Mugello, Colin Edwards will be there... The Yamaha will sit in his garage along with his 26 other bikes! Some folks have the cash I guess..

[Corvus]

........Would anyone here part with that wedge?

...........What is the future for pricey new sports bikes with an ageing audience?

What would tempt me more would be (for the sake of argument) a 350cc six cylinder. In other words, id be more interested in them Ploughing their know-how into mechanically exotic machinery which produces horsepower levels fully usable on the road and which I can use to somewhere near its limit.

Forget the horsepower arms race (for the showroom I mean, not necessarily for gp bikes). Give us something we can use and have fun on.

Just a thought!

[Blackal]

I think the (main) thrust of Boxerscott's post - is to question whether there is a sustainable market for superbikes which cost £16k or more?

I have my doubts too.

That said - look at the way the new luxury cars have been leaving the forecourts - helped in no small way, by the availability of credit and PCP plans. I reckon a lot of the purchases and accompanying debt are taken by people who subscribe to the view: "Everyone is doing it - we can't all be allowed to go bankrupt".

Al

[Corvus]

I think the (main) thrust of Boxerscott's post - is to question whether there is a sustainable market for superbikes which cost £16k or more?

I have my doubts too.

That said - look at the way the new luxury cars have been leaving the forecourts - helped in no small way, by the availability of credit and PCP plans. I reckon a lot of the purchases and accompanying debt are taken by people who subscribe to the view: "Everyone is doing it - we can't all be allowed to go bankrupt".

Al

I refer you to the thread titled "101mph", running concurrently with this thread. Do you think this has any connection to the survival or relevance of the superbike for "street" use, given the extent of speed limit enforcement?

I see horsepower in conjunction with luxury as a slightly different market. Although horsepower and potential to achieve any certain speed are obviously intrinsically linked.

Someone has recently suggested that car drivers caught well over the speed limit limit are treated differently to bikers. I wouldn't know if that's true or not. Is it?

[Topcat]

Sustainable in what context?

If you mean affordability based on wages then I would say yes. I can only base this on my own experience but the 1st new bike I bought was a Kawa GPX750 in 1990, cost 4k. Now I wanted the GPZ but couldn’t afford it, so if I remember correctly they must have been in the region of 6 to 7K? Lets say 6. At the time, I was a site Engineer working in the North (Sheffield I think) earning between 6k and 8k a year and, bear in mind that I was the lowest paid bloke on site by a long way. How I thought that I could afford that is beyond me now but you do draft things when you are young.

Now, graduate Engineers will join a contractor for about 25 to 30k, depends on the state of the market and other factors but around about that, about the same ratio as before.

If you mean based on people actually wanting to buy a bike, especially young ones, then I'm not sure. I think there is a gradually reducing number of young people getting into bikes but is that off-set by the 40 something’s going direct access and starting later in life. Don’t know.

But, when we ordered Ginny's, there was a top spec S1 all ready to go, ordered by a local farmer but he couldn’t get insured! When I questioned this, the salesman said with all due respect, you are considerable older than him!

If you mean sustainable in the economic climate of cheap money and is the debt bubble about to burst and the biggest thing on people minds will be growing veg in the spare room, then I really do have no idea!

[Blackal]

Sustainable in what context?


If you mean based on people actually wanting to buy a bike, especially young ones, then I'm not sure. I think there is a gradually reducing number of young people getting into bikes but is that off-set by the 40 something’s going direct access and starting later in life. Don’t know.

I think you have highlighted a very salient point.

Also - I suspect there is a significant number of the 40+ who have more than one bike.

It's all very well being simplistic and saying that the big manufacturers have to produce more "basic" bikes, but perhaps that woudn't fire the imagination of the average 40+ who is re-evaluating his/her life?

How many people come onto forums and ask the question "which one should I buy?" (done that myself ) - the truth is, they should buy the one that their heart tells them to. It's not like buying a washing machine - and asking what's the "Which - best buy"..........

So - the manufacturers will continue to build bikes that "appeal to the heart".

It's not usually the 17yr-old who returns to the dealer for all maintenance to be done on his bike either...........

Al

[Topcat]

Spot on.

There are numinous bikes out there that are very good valve (IMHO). Was kicking tyres in Bridge Motorcycles in Exeter at the weekend, MT07 on the road price for about 5300! But, when we took the MT09 for a spin when it came out, it just didn’t do it for us.

Took the S1000RR and the S1000R out on a miserably wet and muddy day a few weeks back, we both came back with grins like 16 year old's on their first moped.